Halen

Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 8pm
Presented by American Airlines

Hans Graf, conductor
David Halen, violin
Jonathan Vinocour, viola

PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1, “Classical”
MOZART Sinfonia concertante, K. 364
STRAVINSKY Scènes de Ballet
BIZET Symphony in C

The influence of one’s forbearers may produce anxiety, but it also provokes great art. Bizet stands boldly in Mozart’s shadow. Young Prokofiev honors his musical ancestors as Stravinsky reflects on Tchaikovsky’s fiery romanticism. Mozart is purely himself, inventing a refined discourse between violin and viola.

McGegan

Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 8pm

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Barbara Orland, oboe
Andrew Gott, bassoon
Alison Harney, violin
Melissa Brooks, cello
Laura Claycomb, soprano
Thomas Cooley, tenor
Saint Louis Symphony Chorus
Amy Kaiser, director

MENDELSSOHN Fair Melusine Overture
HAYDN Sinfonia concertante
HANDEL Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day

One for the muses. If you’re called upon to make music for the Queen, you’d better bring your best stuff. Handel knew how to please a royal court, but for Cecilia, the patron saint of music, he writes to satisfy the divine. Mendelssohn and Haydn add to this extraordinary command performance.

Lortie

Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 8pm
Presented by Thompson Coburn LLP

Michael Christie, conductor
Louis Lortie, piano

BARBER Essay No. 1
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1
TCHAIKOVSKY Suite No. 3

Barber’s Essay lights a bright American candle. Chopin’s piano concertos are all of fire, a dramatic combustion between orchestra and soloist, a battle as riveting as a volatile marriage. Tchaikovsky’s suites are just as incandescent. Being Russian, he knows the darkest nights require heat and light. He brings them.

Ax

Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 8pm
Presented by American Airlines

David Robertson, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano

HAYDN Symphony No. 92, “Oxford”
R. STRAUSS Burleske
GEORGE BENJAMIN Dance Figures
SZYMANOWSKI Symphony No. 4 (Symphonie concertante)

One of the most exciting virtuosic displays of last season was Christian Tetzlaff’s sensational performance of Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto. Let Szymanowski become a household name to you when the phenomenal Emanuel Ax plays a late work of the Polish composer to complete a program of raucous sophistication.

Robertson

Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 8pm
Presented by American Airlines

David Robertson, conductor
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
(Performing Mozart and Britten)

MOZART Symphony No. 40
BRITTEN Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
RAVEL Boléro

Celebrate the exquisite marriage of music and dance as Chicago’s gravity defying Hubbard Street dance company takes the stage, and takes to the air, with the able accompaniment of the SLSO. After the dancers exit, the musicians complete this concert of soaring bodies and ecstatic sounds with the sensual Boléro.

Salerno-
Sonnenberg

Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 8pm
Presented by Thompson Coburn LLP

Vasily Petrenko, conductor
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin

ELGAR Cockaigne Overture
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5

With the Bruch concerto, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg is given a melody that never stops from beginning to end. Watch where it takes her. She nearly took the roof off Powell Hall when she played Tchaikovsky two seasons ago. Just as well, Shostakovich is sure to give you a view of the sky.